English+I+Honors+Notebook

=English I Honors Notebook=

[ Basic Information ]

 * **Course title:** English I (Reader's/Writer's Workshop)
 * **Instructor:** Ira T. Smith
 * **Course number:** 10215A (Sections 01 and 02)
 * **Subject area:** English Language Arts
 * **School information:**
 * Craven Early College, 800 College Court, New Bern, NC 28562 (map)
 * Principal: Daniel Colvin -- daniel.colvin@craven.k12.nc.us
 * Website: @http://www.cravenearlycollege.org
 * **District information:**
 * Craven County Schools, 3600 Trent Road, New Bern, NC 28562 (map)
 * Superintendent: Lane B. Mills -- lane.mills@craven.k12.nc.us
 * Website: @http://www.craven.k12.nc.us

[ Course Overview ]

 * **Course description:** English I builds the foundation students will need for success not only in future English courses, but in all of their studies. The course is thematically integrated with World Dynamics, using the topics and issues discussed in that course as a departure point to study literature and writing. Readings will be drawn from a variety of genres including prose fiction, poetry, academic articles, and other non-fiction works. Students will study these readings through group discussion, formal and creative writing, and project-based learning.
 * **Goals and objectives:** See the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for English I and the Common Core ELA Standards for grades 9-10.
 * **Essential questions:**
 * Why do we read?
 * Why do we write?
 * How can we effectively read, understand, analyze, and respond to literary genres?
 * How can we best express our emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a variety of written forms?
 * How do written works relate to, connect to, reflect, and shape our world and experience?
 * How can we use literature to better understand ourselves, our civilization (in terms of its past, present, and future), and our interactions with others?
 * **Expectations for student performance:** This course, as an honors-level class, is purposefully designed with a greater degree of depth, intensity, rigor, and student independence than other English courses. The pace and level of work, as well as the expected performance of students, is similar to that of a college-level English course. Students are expected to arrive in class prepared, actively participate, read and think critically, and develop creative, insightful responses to assignments and projects. Students should not only be aware of these expectations, but be ready, willing, and -- most importantly -- //excited// to meet the challenges this course will present.
 * **Assignments and Pacing Guide:** See the Class Materials section (on navigation menu at right), Class Calendar, and Daily Agendas Archive.
 * **Assessments and Rubrics:** Students are assessed through a mixture of quizzes, tests, projects, and written responses. Grading criteria and rubrics for class assessments are located on individual assignment/project pages, accessible through the Class Materials section of the navigation menu at right or the Daily Agendas Archive. Students also take district-mandated End of Quarter (EOQ) assessments during each nine-week period, as well as the state-mandated End of Course (EOC) assessment for English I. Consult the Class Calendar and Daily Agendas Archive for assessment dates.
 * **Grading:**
 * Each assignment, project, or assessment is graded on a 100 point scale. In general, A-quality work is considered that which exceeds defined expectations or requirements for an assignment.
 * A = 93-100
 * B = 85-92
 * C = 77-84
 * D = 70-76
 * F = 0-69
 * Each semester grade is calculated using the total points method. Each assignment has a point value -- e.g. quizzes are worth 100 points each, homework assignments are worth 30 points each, projects vary anywhere from 300 to 500 points or more, depending on difficulty and length. A student's total points earned are totaled and divided by the number of total possible points to arrive at the semester grade.
 * The final course grade is weighted as follows:
 * Semester 1 - 37.5%
 * Semester 2 - 37.5%
 * Final exam (English I EOC) - 25%